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Engr. Michael Manguerra is an assistant professor from the Manufacturing Engineering Dept of De La Salle University. His research interest is in Biomedical Engineering, particularly assistive devices for PWD. He is currently a consultant in several Biomedical Engineering research projects and also doing his PhD in ECE, focusing on Assistive Devices.

We talked about becoming a biomedical engineer, Project AGAPAY, how the AGAPAY exoskeleton works, the significance of Project AGAPAY’s international patent, what it takes to become an educator and engineer in the Philippines, and more.

How to contact Engr. Michael:

Facebook: fb.com/DIYProfPH

Timothy James M. Dimacali is a science journalist, communicator, and fictionist. He is the founding editor of GMA News Online's Science and Technology Section, and currently heads the University of the Philippines Diliman Science Communication Team. He received his Master’s degree in Science Writing from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on a Fulbright scholarship and his BA English degree in Creative Writing from the University of the Philippines. He is also an alumnus of the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers’ Workshop under the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination.

We talked about creativity in science communication, telling engaging science stories without sacrificing accuracy, finding inspiration in telling science stories, how AI tools may affect the writing industry, heading UP Diliman’s SciComm team, and more.

How to contact TJ:

Facebook: fb.com/tjdimacali

Twitter: @tjdimacali

Email: [email protected]

Christian Paul Angeles is a licensed nurse based in the United Kingdom, with over a decade’s worth of professional experience in the healthcare industry. He serves as the Unit Manager of the Neonatal Unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. In 2019, he was awarded the Most Inspirational Nurse at a private hospital.

We talked about life in the U.K. as a nurse, the challenges of being a nurse in the Philippines, the U.K. healthcare system, how the Philippines can improve its own healthcare system, and more.

How to contact Paul:

Email: [email protected]

Frederick Delfin leads one of two human population-based genomics projects under the Filipino Genomes Research Program (FGRP) at the DNA Analysis Laboratory of the UP Natural Sciences Research Institute (UP-NSRI). His research focuses on human population genetics, evolutionary genetics and molecular anthropology. He has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of the Philippines Baguio, and a Master’s degree from the Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Program (now the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology) of UP Diliman. His doctoral fellowship training was through the International Max Planck Research School for Human Origins at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany and through the Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands.

We talked about why genomics is an important field of study, the DNA of the Filipino, the benefits we enjoy from studying genetics, the process of conducting human genomics research, why some people reject scientific ideas despite the existence of evidence, and more.

How to contact Frederick:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook (UP-NSRI DNA Analysis Laboratory): fb.com/DNAForensicAndEthnicity 

The Filipino Genomes Research Program (FGRP) is searching for partner-volunteers for the National Capital Region and other Filipino groups from different regional population centers. Interested individuals may refer to photos on the DAL FB page (fb.com/DNAForensicAndEthnicity) for more details.

Beam Maquilan is a chemistry senior aspiring to work on both Materials Science to develop sustainable materials for green energy and environmental preservation, and Science Communication to contribute to bridging the gap between science and society. She aims to inspire a community of scientific thinkers through her self-written and self-animated science videos.

We talked about communicating science through animation, her creative process when making science videos, balancing her passion project with her academic requirements, tips for creating science content, challenges in simplifying science, and more.

How to contact Beam:

YouTube: youtube.com/sciencebeam

Instagram: @sciencebeammm

Twitter: @sciencebeammm

Dr. Ibarra Ariel Poliquit is a licensed veterinarian with extensive experience in feline-specific veterinary care. He served as the Medical Director of the Cat Clinic, the first feline-specific veterinary practice in the Philippines. He is also a lecturer at De La Salle Araneta University.

We talked about the importance of specialization in veterinary medicine, the challenges of being a veterinarian in the Philippines, why veterinarians tend to be underappreciated, misconceptions about owning pets, the two sides of the "Adopt, don't shop" argument, and more.

How to contact Dr. Ariel:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: fb.com/banzpoliquit

Dr. Pia Bagamasbad is an Associate Professor and the Director of the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB) in UP Diliman. Her research work aims to understand the molecular basis of hormone action in the context of neuronal development and hormone-related cancer such as breast and prostate cancer. In 2019, Dr. Bagamasbad was given the distinction of Outstanding Young Scientist by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), and in 2022, she was named one of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS).

We talked about the areas of everyday life connected to molecular endocrinology, her research on hormone-related cancer, her team’s unique role in the Philippines’ pandemic response, the three biggest problems that make research in the Philippines difficult, mentoring the next generation of Pinoy scientists, and more.

How to contact Dr. Pia:

Email: [email protected]

Dr. Lemnuel Aragones is a professor at UP Diliman’s Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM). He has been studying marine mammals since 1988. He is recognized for his significant contributions in marine zoology research, particularly on the biology, ecology, and conservation of the dugong (sea cow) and the green turtle.

We talked about the different marine mammals in the Philippines, why strandings happen and what we can learn from them, why the Philippines lacks a true “culture of science,” why there are so few scientists studying marine mammals in the Philippines, concrete ways an ordinary Filipino can help save marine animals, and more.

How to contact Dr. Lemnuel:

Website: https://iesm.science.upd.edu.ph

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network (PMMSN): https://pmmsn.org/

Dr. Ruby Roan-Cristobal is a seasoned science communication professional, a research practitioner, an IT manager, and a science broadcaster. She hosts a weekly radio program that promotes science and technology to the general public, and worked for the Science Education Institute of the Department of Science and Technology as Chief Science Research Specialist. In the ‘90s, she served a key role in the development and production of “Sineskwela,” a science television program that paved the way for media-based STEM education in the Philippines.

We talked about how the idea for “Sineskwela” was born, her role in the development of “Sineskwela,” creating effective science TV programs for young audiences, what science communicators can learn from the success of “Sineskwela,” her other science communication initiatives over the years, being clear about what you want to accomplish as a scientist, and more.

How to contact Dr. Ruby:

Facebook: fb.com/radyohenyosadzrh

Dr. Philip Cruz is the Country Medical Director at Moderna UK. He has over 15 years of experience in medical affairs in the field of vaccines and pediatrics within the pharmaceutical industry, and has also worked for companies like GSK and AstraZeneca. A pediatrician by training, he is actively involved in clinical research, research and development and pharmaceutical medicine.

We talked about being at the forefront of researching vaccines for a global pandemic, what it took to create vaccines for COVID-19 with efficiency and urgency, addressing common objections about COVID-19 vaccination, why COVID-19 denialism exists, communicating the science of vaccines, and more.

How to contact Dr. Philip:

Email (Moderna UK): [email protected]